Military Honors

The rendering of military funeral honors is a way to show the nation’s deep gratitude to those who, in times of war and peace, have faithfully defended the country. This ceremonial paying of respect is the final demonstration a grateful nation can provide to its veterans’ families.

The tradition of providing military funeral honors, in some form, began in ancient Greece and Rome. The funeral honors protocol of today traces its roots to these ancient ceremonies as well as to historical American experience.

U.S. law now mandates the rendering of military funeral honors for an eligible veteran if requested by the family, provided at no cost by the Department of Defense. Your local Dignity Memorial® provider can help families request military funeral honors. The request form is included in the Veterans Planning Guide offered by Dignity Memorial® funeral, cremation and cemetery providers.

As provided by law, an honor guard detail for the burial of an eligible veteran shall consist of not less than two members of the Armed Forces. One member of the detail shall be a representative of the parent branch of service of the deceased veteran. The honor detail will, at a minimum, perform a ceremony that includes the folding and presentation of the American flag to the next of kin and the playing of taps. Taps will be played by a bugler, if available, or by electronic recording.

Please note that today there are so few buglers available that the military often cannot provide one. Should there be a need, any Dignity Memorial provider can provide an official recording of taps or assist in locating area musicians.

Who is eligible?

Military members on active duty

Military retirees

Members and former members of the Selected Reserve

Eligible U.S. veterans of any war

Other U.S. veterans who served at least one term of enlistment and separated under conditions other than dishonorable

Who is not eligible?

Individuals discharged from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions

Individuals sentenced to death or life imprisonment without parole for a federal or state capital offense

Other explicit circumstances

Find a Service Provider

The Dignity Memorial® network serves families through more than 2,000 service providers across North America.

The folding and presentation of the American flag and the playing of taps at a military funeral are somber, beautiful and moving. For images of the ceremony, click here.

This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. The Dignity Memorial brand name is used to identify a network of licensed funeral, cremation and cemetery providers that include affiliates of Service Corporation International, 1929 Allen Parkway, Houston, Texas. With over 2,000 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 300,000 families a year.